Steep learning curve but Hiroki has made the grade
Umpires build up ranks
When Dave Hiroki spotted a heated discussion going on in a Southland club cricket game five years ago, never would he have imagined that one day it would lead him to a trip to Auckland to officiate in a national tournament.
Hiroki has had a lengthy background in sport including being a finalist in 1977 for Southland sportsperson of the year through his exploits as a national welterweight champion boxer taking on the likes of Kevin Barry.
He also has a passion for rugby league, spending time playing in Australia, and he has been heavily involved with softball over the years.
While he acknowledged he has always had a soft spot for cricket, his previous involvement with the game was restricted to playing a season while at Kingswell High School.
Five years ago that changed when he made a snap decision to become a cricket umpire and help the Southland Cricket Association, which was struggling to attract officials.
‘‘Me and my mate were having a coffee over the road from Appleby one day and there was a bit of an argument going on in the middle of the pitch.
‘‘I just said to the guy on the boundary ‘ what was that over’, he said ‘there’s no umpires Dave’, so I said ‘who do I see’. Three days later I had a ring.’’
Fast forward to 2013 and Hiroki will head to Auckland next week to umpire in the New Zealand Club Championship finals as the representative for the Otago region.
Hiroki has spent the past five years cramming and trying to get himself up to speed with the in and outs of cricket. ‘‘Not having a cricket background, it’s been really tough going. I had to play out a lot of scenarios before I got onto the field. I have had to learn from my mistakes,’’ he said.
Hiroki is set to officiate in four matches in Auckland.
Umpires are accessed in each game before the six best are appointed to do the playoff games on the Sunday.
A total of 13 umpires will be used, with each of the six major associations having a representative, along with three umpires from the New Zealand Cricket A panel, an umpire from Australia and another three from the Auckland Cricket Association.
Understandably, Hiroki is excited about the prospect of trying to improve even further while umpiring at the national club finals.
‘‘I’m real excited about it because I’m probably getting to the end of the road with all the young ones coming through.’’
The six teams at the national club finals will be Kaipara Flats, representing Northern Districts, Parnell (Auckland), New Plymouth-Marist United (Central Districts), Eastern Suburbs (Wellington), Old Collegians (Canterbury) and Kaikorai (Otago).